Talbot, Nash lead Rangers over Oilers 5-0

Associated Press

March 30, 2014 - 10:15 PM

EDMONTON, Alberta — Backup Cam Talbot stopped 26 shots for his third career shutout and Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello scored two goals apiece to lead the New York Rangers to their sixth win in seven games, a 5-0 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday night.

Derek Brassard also scored for the Rangers, who moved two points ahead of the Philadelphia Flyers for second place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Rangers tied their franchise record for road wins with 24 this season.

The Oilers have lost four of their last five games. It was the ninth time this season that the Oilers have been shut out.

Edmonton goalie Ben Scrivens kept it scoreless seven minutes into the game with a huge kick save after Nash split the defense to go in alone on a power play.

New York took a 1-0 lead with 3:30 to play in the opening frame when Zuccarello tipped in Anton Stralman's shot on a play that Scrivens argued involved a high stick. It was reviewed and Zuccarello got his 16th goal of the season.

The Rangers almost had a two-goal lead two minutes later when a puck got behind Scrivens, but the goaltender was able to grab it before it crossed the goal-line out during a mad scramble in front of the net.

The Rangers had eight first-period shots, while the Oilers mustered three on Talbot.

New York took a 2-0 lead 4:38 into the second period on the power play, on Brassard's knuckler from the sideboards that seemed to catch Scrivens off guard.

The Rangers took a three-goal advantage with 9:07 into the period when Nash threw a backhand from behind the goal-line in front and it hit Scrivens and went in for Nash's 24th goal of the season.

New York made it 4-0 with 6:34 left in the second period on a short-handed two-on-one break with Nash converting a pass from Derek Stepan.

The Rangers upped their lead to 5-0 on another short-handed goal four minutes into the third period when defender Philip Larsen overcommitted to covering Stepan. He was able to earn his third assist with a feed to Zuccarello in front of the net for his second goal. It was the 13th short-handed goal the Oilers have allowed this season.

Both teams return to the ice on Tuesday. The Rangers play the third game of a four-game trip in Vancouver and the Oilers take their final three-game road trip of the season, starting in San Jose.

NOTES: It was the second and final meeting between the teams this season. The Oilers won the first matchup 2-1 on Feb. 6 with Scrivens making 35 saves at Madison Square Garden. ... The Oilers may be in second-last in the NHL, but they came into the game with a winning record against Eastern Conference teams, sitting at 14-13-4 before the loss. ... Rangers forward Martin St. Louis has yet to score in his 14 games with New York since being acquired for Ryan Callahan and two draft picks. ... Rangers forward Daniel Carcillo returned from a bout with the flu. ... Remaining out for New York were defenseman John Moore (concussion) and forward Chris Kreider (left hand). ... Out for the Oilers were forwards Ryan Jones (knee) and Nail Yakupov (ankle), and defenseman Andrew Ference (chest).